Poll: Spend more on Medicare and Medicaid, voters say
About half the public think the federal government isn't spending enough on each of these programs, the poll finds.
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As President Donald Trump begins his new term, a new KFF tracking poll finds that both Medicare and Medicaid continue to be viewed favorably by large majorities of the public, including majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents.
While some lawmakers are discussing changes to Medicaid and Medicare, including possible spending cuts, about half the public think the federal government isn't spending enough on each of these programs. Half of those surveyed (51%) say the federal government spends "not enough" on Medicare, and nearly half (46%) say the same about Medicaid.
Across both programs, the share of the public who say the government isn't spending enough is more than twice the share of those the government is spending "too much."
The poll also shows bipartisan consensus for some health policy priorities for Congress and the new administration, especially around oversight and regulation. Majorities of the public – including about half or more across party lines – say boosting healthcare price transparency rules (61%), setting stricter limits on chemicals found in food supply (58%) and more closely regulating the process used by health insurance companies when they approve or deny services or prescription drugs (55%) should be a "top priority" for the incoming administration and Congress.
Expanding the number of prescription drugs on which the federal government negotiates the Medicare price is also ranked as a "top priority" by a majority of the public – including two-thirds of Democrats, 54% of independents, 48% of Republicans and three-fourths of people who are currently enrolled in Medicare.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
While large percentages of the public are generally favorable toward some of the administration's potential healthcare priorities, they strongly oppose other potential policy actions, the report said. They're divided, for example, on whether the administration should prioritize recommendations against fluoride in local water supplies, with the same share saying it should be a "top priority" (23%) as saying it "should not be done" (23%).
And less than one in eight adults (including fewer than a quarter of Republicans) say reducing federal funding to schools that require vaccinations (15%), limiting abortion access (14%) or reducing federal spending on Medicaid (13%) should be a "top priority," while at least four in 10 say each of these "should not be done."
Close to two-thirds of adults (64%) hold a favorable view of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, but views on the future of the law are still largely partisan. Four in 10 Republicans (40%) say repealing the legislation should be a top priority, while half of Democrats (50%) say extending the enhanced subsidies for people who buy their own coverage should be a top priority.
Overall, most of the public is worried about the level of benefits for people who buy their own coverage through the ACA marketplaces including nearly nine in ten Democrats (86%), nearly eight in 10 independents (78%) and nearly half of Republicans (47%).
About three-fourths (73%) of the public think that reducing fraud and waste in government health programs could lead to reductions in overall federal spending – which is the stated goal of Trump's newly formed government efficiency program. But many also think it will result in a reduction of benefits. More than half say reducing fraud and waste could lead to reductions in the benefits people receive from the Medicaid and Medicare programs.
THE LARGER TREND
The poll found that few Americans now expect healthcare costs for them and their family members to become more affordable over the next few years. In fact, more than half (57%) of the public – including 54% of Trump voters – say they expect the cost of healthcare to become "less affordable."
Majorities of Democrats (60%) and independents (59%), as well as half of Republicans (51%) all expect healthcare costs for them and their family members to become less affordable in the coming years.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.